Lawmakers from the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino have joined growing calls to renew the franchise of broadcast giant ABS-CBN, months before its original franchise expires.

Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel, Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep. Paulino Salvador Leachon filed this week House Bill 5608 which seeks to grant the broadcast agency franchise to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain broadcasting stations in the Philippines for 25 years.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Legislative Franchises last Wednesday.

In pushing for the passage of the bill, the lawmakers cited ABS-CBN’s broadcast operations to support the development of sports in the country.

“ABS-CBN has partnered with the University Athletics Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association in order to highlight the skills of our young Filipino athletes, give them helpful exposure necessary for their development and to aid in preparing them for the next level of their careers.”

They also cited ABS-CBN’s support to the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MBPL) Association Inc., saying that the broadcast agency helps in furthering the organization’s goals of searching grassroots talents and providing workshops and training for all ages.

“ABS-CBN’s ability to reach a wide audience and its thrust to showcase budding Filipino athletic talents through the MBPL, is an invaluable contribution to the development of sports in the Philippines.”

“By broadcasting the MPBL and similar leagues, ABS-CBN is able to inspire young local athletic talents in provinces in the Philippines that they too can reach their dreams.”

“The foregoing, together with ABS-CBN’s various achievements in the broadcast industry — award winning and world class content, focus on public service and pioneering technologies — certainly warrant the renewal of ABS-CBN’s broadcast franchise to ensure the interrupted and improved delivery of its services to the Filipino people.”